Major John Martin Edward Buller Coates was born
in 1904 and was commissioned into the East Surrey Regiment in 1925. Transferring
to the Indian Army in 1926, he became a Lieutenant in the 2nd Punjab Regiment in
1928 and promoted Captain in 1934. Between 1934-37 he was employed as a Wing
Officer with the Tochi Scouts. He retired in 1938 but was reactivated the
following year and appointed to the Indian Army Ordnance Corps in June 1940.
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